Key-actuated musical instrument.



.No. 729,260. PATENTEDY MAY 26, 1963.

v. BESSIER.

. KEY'AGTUATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

' urmonmn FILED JULY 24, 1902.

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\ m: NORRIS FEIERS b0, worom'nov, WASHINOYON. u. c.

Patented May 26, 1903.

PATENT OF I E.

VETAL BESSIER, BROO KLYN, NEW YORK KEY-ACTUATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,260, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed July 24, 1902. Serial No. 116,795. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VETALBESSIER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Key-Actuated Musical Instruments, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to attachments for key-actuated instruments, such as pianos and organs, to play the same by pneumatic action controlled by note-sheets.

The object of the invention is to providea new and improved attachment for a piano, organ, or like instrument arranged to actuate the keys with comparatively little power and to allow the performer to manually play the keys independently whenever desired whether the attachment is in action ornot.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a transverse section of the improvement as applied to an upright piano, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the improvement.

The keys A of the piano orlike musicalinstrurnent are arranged in the usual manner and are pivoted at B, and their rear ends are connected with the action of any approved construction, so that further description of this part of the instrument is not deemed necessary. The forward end of each key A is provided below its finger-piece A with an opening A into which extends the upper end of a rod 0, connected at its lower end to the free end of a pneumatic D, secured to the under side of a keyboard-bottom E, as plainly shown in the drawings, it being understood that the said pneumatics are arranged one alongside the other, and as many are employed as there are keys A in the musical instrument.

Each pneumatic D is connected by a flexia set-screw C ble pipe F with a tracker-board G, over which passes a note-sheet H in the usual manner. Each pneumatic D is also connected by a flexible pipe I with an exhaust-chamber J, preferably secured on the under side of a bottom board E for the chamber containing the pneumatics D, and the said exhaust-chamber J is connected with the usual bellows K, actuated from pedals N by links L.

The rod 0, previously mentioned, establishes connection between the key A and its pneumatic Din such a manner that the key can be played by the operator whenever it is desired to do so and whether the attachment is in action or not. When the pneumatic D is inflated at the time an opening in the note-sheet H registers with a channel in the tracker-board connected by the pipe F with the corresponding pneumatic D, then its free end pulls on the rod O in a downward direction, so as to impart a downward swinging motion to the front end of the key A to actuate the same. The upper end of each rod 0 is provided with a collar 0, held adjustable on the rod and secured in position thereon after the desired adjustment is made by The collar 0 rests on the bottom wall of the opening A so that when the rod 0 is pulled downward by the action of the pneumatic D then a swinging motion is given to the key A. The lower end of the rod 0 is provided with a collar 0 preferably fixed on the rod and engaging the underside of the bottom board of the pneumatic D, so that when the latter is inflated it presses the collar 0 downward to move the rod 0 in a like direction for the purpose previously described. Now when the operator plays the key A the rod 0 simply moves down with the key, 'with the lower end of the rod sliding in the opening D in the bottom board of the pneumatic D, and hence the said rod and pneumatic D do not interfere in the least with the operator manually playing the keys whenever it is desired to do so.

I do not limit myself to the particular construction of the connectionbetween the pneu matic D and the key A, as the same may be varied; but it is of the utmost importance that the connection between the pneumatic and the key be at the front end of the latter,

so that it requires but very little power in the pneumatic to actuate the key A to sound the instrument. It is further of importance that the connection between the pneumatic and the key A be below the top or finger piece A thereof, so as to leave the keys completely unobstructed for the performer to play thereon.

It is immaterial Whether the pneumatic is actuated by suction or by pressure.

The rod 0 may be secured at its upper end on the key and have a loose connection with the pneumatic, as shown, or it may be fastened in the pneumatic and have a loose connection with the key, as shown.

The tubes F extend upward through registering recesses A formed in the sides of the keys inside of the. piano-casing, (see Fig. 1,) so that the attachment takes up very little room and does not mar the appearance of the instrument.

The attachment described is exceedingly sensitive and permits mechanically playing the keys in rapid succession.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a key-actuated musical instrument, the combination with, the keys and the keyframe on which the keys are fulcrumed, of pneumatics directly attached to the keyframe, and means between each key and a corresponding pneumatic for actuating the key from the pneumatic, as set forth.

2. In a key-actuated musical instrument, the combination with the keys and the keyframe on which the keys are fulcrumed, of pneumatics directly attached to the keyframe, and means between each key and a corresponding pneumatic for actuating the key from the pneumatic, the said means being arranged to allow of playing the key by hand without actuating the pneumatic, as set forth.

' 3. In a key-actuated musical instrument, the combination with the keys and the keyframe on which the keys are fulcrumed, of pneumatics directly attached to the keyframe, and a connecting-rod between each pneumatic and the front end of its corresponding key, to actuate the latter from the pneumatic and to allow playing the key by hand without actuating the pneumatic, as set forth.

4. In a key-actuated musical instrument, the combination with the keys and the keyframe on which the keys are fulcrumed, of pneumatics directly attached to the keyframe, a connecting-rod between eachpneumatic and the front end of its corresponding key, to actuate the latter from the pneumatic and to allow playing the key by hand without actuating the pneumatic, a tracker-board located above the keys, and pipe connections between the trackerboard and the pneumatics, extending through the key-frame and through openings formed between adjacent keys in front of the fulcrum of the keys, as set forth.

5. The combination with a key having an opening at its front end, of an actuating device for the key, comprising a pneumatic, and a rod extending from the pneumatic into the said opening, the rod having retaining means engaging the bottom wall of the opening, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VETAL BESSIER.

'Witnesses:

THEO. G. HosTER, JNo. M. BITTER. 

